Event Experience (Bizzabo)

In this episode, we talk with two of the three authors of the new book, Event Success: Maximizing the Business Impact of In-person, Virtual, and Hybrid Experiences. They also happen to be two of the three founders of Bizzabo, Eran Ben-Shushan and Alon Alroy!

Eran Ben-Shushan is Bizzabo’s Co-Founder and CEO. For three consecutive years, Eran has been recognized as The Software Report’s Top 50 SaaS CEOs. In 2021, he was named to Goldman Sachs’s “100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs,” Business Travel News’s “25 Most Influential” executives, and BizBash’s “Most Influential Event Professionals.”

Alon Alroy is Bizzabo’s Co-Founder and CMO. He works closely with thousands of event executives and CMOs to deliver world-class event programs. Alon was just named to Connect and BizBash’s “40 Under 40 List.” He’s also been recognized as one of Business Insider’s “Most Important Marketing Tech Executives” and Eventex’s “100 Most Influential People in The Event Industry.”

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation: 

• The three components event professionals need to focus on to achieve event success
• How to identify and overcome the Event Impact Gap™ 
• How to achieve a meaningful Return on Event (ROE)
• The four major areas that make up data maturity and how they factor into event disruption

Kyle Suzuki (Head of XM Events, Qualtrics) shares his journey from building passionate communities of gamers to building passionate communities of corporate professionals and what these audiences share in common. He also shares his thoughts on following your passion, building a 5-year plan, the value in turning virtual events into campaigns, and how he and his team have been adjusting to the new skills and circumstances of 2020. 

As the Head of XM Events at Qualtrics, Kyle oversees the event team creating the flagship XM category building brand moments for Qualtrics. This includes the annual X4: Experience Management Summit and most recently a virtual event, WorkDifferent, showcasing how iconic brands are taking action to move forward. Before joining Qualtrics, Kyle spent over 8 years in consumer entertainment product marketing for Xbox. Kyle brought his passion for creative, experiential activation and entertainment marketing, honed from years working in gaming, to the B2B space.

Sara Gorlick (VP of Events at Rakuten) shares how to tie events to categories of ROI, align with sales teams, lead with resiliency through crises like COVID-19, and more.

Sara Gorlick is the VP of Events at Rakuten where she leads the Americas event team in planning the company’s flagship event Optimism as well as 30+ other events around the world. Sara has worked in events since 2006. She’s been named Corporate Event Planner of the Year by BizBash and Corporate Planner of the Year by Event Solutions.

In this episode, we’ll examine the speaker lineup for today’s events and how adequate preparation can lead to astronomical payoffs.

Cliff Kennedy is the Communication Success Coach at Kennedy Speech Communications.

Cliff shares his expertise about how speakers should inspire audiences, the priority we should place on speaker preparation and rehearsal, and how non-native English speakers and technical experts can be more included and successful in event content.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• How to go from informational talk to transformational talk

• Cliff’s communication success framework (5-step process)

• Better Speakers, Better Events process

Mentioned in this episode

• Cliff Kennedy

• Kennedy Speech Communications

• Brain Food Newsletter

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/cliff-kennedy-speaking-roi. 

Adele Durham, (VP of Events, Haymarket Media) opens up about her experience creating engaging events and shares her tips for uncovering what audiences really want, driving value for sponsors in a digital world, and proving virtual event ROI.

Adele has spent over a decade following her passion for media and events from London to New York City. She started at Haymarket Media 14 years ago as a senior sales executive, working her way up, and now leads the events team as the Vice President of events. Haymarket media was well-versed in virtual events long before COVID-19, and Adele is using her digital and live experience to plan engaging and successful virtual events like their recent PRWeek Awards.

Welcome to the Event Experience podcast by Bizzabo! This episode features Arianna Black, the Director of Events and Digital Experiences for Women in Product. 

Join Black as she delves into her extensive background in event production and explores her current role at Women in Product. She shares her insights on creating engaging virtual and physical event spaces while emphasizing the importance of community-driven events and boosting sponsor ROI. She also explores how virtual events have evolved, highlighting their challenges and opportunities. 

Black’s approach to event planning is strategic and data-driven, aiming to make each event meaningful and impactful for every attendee. The conversation also covers the use of technology in events — including generative AI — and how it can enhance personalization and networking opportunities.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• The significance of community-driven events in empowering women in product management roles.

• Strategies for merging physical and virtual event spaces for enhanced attendee and sponsor experiences.

• Insights into the evolving nature of events, focusing on engagement, inclusivity, and the importance of personalization.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Women in Product

• Better Events Pod

• Peloton experience

• Julius Solaris

• Priya Parker

• Arianna Black on LinkedIn

In this episode, IMEX CEO Carina Bauer discusses the meticulous planning required to execute large-scale events with her hardworking team of 83. Bauer took on the monumental task of revamping IMEX Frankfurt, which underwent a significant technological shift and a much-anticipated rebrand after two decades. 

Bauer talks about IMEX’s diverse global audience and how the brand’s objectives transcend mere attendance. She also shares key learnings from Frankfurt that made it easier to overhaul the American version of the event, plus a few details about the new group website coming after IMEX America in October 2023. 

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• How IMEX Frankfurt 2023 marked a significant rebrand and a technological overhaul aimed at refining the attendee experience and fostering connections

• The impact that the Frankfurt chapter had in streamlining operations for IMEX America

• The overwhelming demand for IMEX America and how it underscores the event's relevance and the promising future for the industry

Mentioned in This Episode

• IMEX

• IMEX Frankfurt

• IMEX America 

• "The Culture Lab" by Aga Bajer

• "Freakonomics"

• Carina Bauer on LinkedIn

Monique Ruff-Bell, Tania Capaz, and Paul McAvinchey join Kyana Shamloo to look back at the past six months of in-person events and explore what the future holds.

In this episode of Event Experience, host Rachel Moore sits down with Billie Jo Aasen, CEO of The Festival Company, to dive into the muddy waters of organizing Canada's largest mud and music festival: Extreme Mudfest, a four-day mud and music festival located in Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada.

With a decade of experience under her belt — and a journey from aspiring country singer to festival mogul — Aasen shares the highs and lows of festival planning, from the early days of scraping by to the triumphant moments of sell-out success. The conversation covers the challenges of scaling an event, the importance of knowing your audience and building community, and the unexpected hurdles of weather and logistical nightmares.

Bonus: Aasen announces a second Mudfest location, marking a new chapter in her mission to bring the spirit of extreme motorsports and music to a broader audience!

Here’s what else you’ll hear about in this conversation:

1. How Aasen transformed a passion for country music and community into the founding of Canada's largest mud and music festival

2. Balancing authenticity and knowing your market with the importance of strategic growth and continuous innovation

3. The critical role of resilience in the event industry, underscoring the financial and emotional challenges of festival planning

For the full transcript and links to things mentioned in this episode, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/billie-jo-aasan-mudfest-festival-planning!

In this episode, you’ll learn about the realities of our review-based economy, easy ways eventprofs can establish social proof, and how to embrace both positive and negative reviews. 

As the visionary founder of Eventible.com, Ankush Gupta is spearheading a paradigm shift in professional event discovery and evaluation. With over two decades of leadership experience, Ankush is leveraging cutting-edge technology and user-generated insights to make Eventible the Glassdoor of business conferences.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• How to leverage speakers and social media to establish social proof of your event

• How to choose marketing channels and accounts, internal and external, to promote your event’s reputation

• Ways to convince your target audience that your event is worth their investment

• Why even negative reviews can be an opportunity to convert future attendees

Mentioned in this episode

• Ankush Gupta on LinkedIn

• Eventible.com

• Jeff Bezos shares about the value of negative reviews (YouTube)

• Magic Words by Johan Berger

In this episode, Adam Parry, the Cofounder and Editor of Event Industry News, shares his extensive experience and insights into the evolving world of event technology and sustainability. He discusses the triumphs and challenges of organizing Event Tech Live and Event Sustainability Live.

Parry reflects on the expansion of Event Tech Live into North America and the inaugural Event Sustainability Live. Throughout the conversation, he offers a candid opinion on the current state of event technology and the post-pandemic period of reset and growth. He discusses the significance of blending practicality with creativity when tailoring event design to audience needs and the organizer's vision. 

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• The challenge and importance of balancing profitability with sustainable business practices
• Current trends in event technology and the need for reliability and effectiveness in tech solutions
• The future of attendee engagement, accessibility, and the integration of technology like AI translation and content captioning

Mentioned in This Episode

• Alien series 
• Event Industry News 
• Event Tech Live 
• Event Sustainability Live
• Adam Parry on LinkedIn

Gianna Cardinale Gaudini (Global Director, Head of Events at SoftBank Vision Fund) shares her thoughts on building an events team, work-life balance, wine, and more.

Gianna is an award-winning Executive Event Producer and author of The Art of Event Planning with over 15 years of experience in the marketing and hospitality industry. Gianna is currently the Global Director, Head of Events for the SoftBank Vision Fund, and previously ran events for Google’s Events and Experience team for 9+ years.

In this episode, you’ll take a journey back in time to late 2023 when event industry experts delivered predictions for the new year, and then fast forward to the present as host Rachel Moore and a panel of experts discuss the current state of event industry trends. 

Learn about the latest impacts of conscious conferencing, micro-events, AI, and event tech consolidation on successful attendee experiences.

One by one, this episode tackles tactics and trends you can incorporate into your event planning to meet the current demands of attendees, sponsors, and business goals. 

• How conscious conferencing, attendee-first and data-driven planning, AI, and event tech innovation — trends revealed in Bizzabo’s December 2023 trends webinar and upheld in the inaugural Gartner Magic Quadrant for Event Technology Platforms — impact event execution in 2024.

• Why micro-events and focusing on attendee priorities of sustainability and DE&I are more complex yet more rewarding in the long run for ROI.

• Tips for how the partnership between AI and humans can help organizers forecast, analyze, and even anticipate attendee behavior.

• Ideas to incorporate innovative wearable event tech can provide actionable intelligence for future event experiences.

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit https://www.bizzabo.com/podcast/2024-event-industry-trends-webinar

In this episode, we’ll zero in on the role of events within integrated marketing with Kelly Carlsted to understand the critical aspects of managing event revenue and demand generation.

Kelly Carlsted is the Senior Manager of Global Field Marketing and Events for Dremio.

Kelly shares her journey and insights on why revenue-oriented thinking is essential for event planners. From blending awareness campaigns with field marketing initiatives to striking a balance between virtual and in-person events, Kelly discusses how understanding data and market positioning can help design better experiences that generate quality leads. 

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• Stats about virtual and in-person event preferences post-COVID

• Ways to make your event stand out in a competitive market

• The importance of mentorship and community within the events industry

• The value of continuing education for event professionals and whether pursuing a CMP is worthwhile

Mentioned in this episode

• Kelly Carlsted on LinkedIn

• Kelly Carlsted on Goodreads

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/kelly-carlsted-demand-generation. 

In this episode, you’ll learn about the evolving landscape of event sponsorships in 2024, providing invaluable insights for event professionals grappling with sponsorship challenges from three industry powerhouses:

1. Arianna Black, Director of Events and Digital Experience for Women In Product

2. Evan Babins, Event Manager for Intuit

3. Jennifer Feeney, Head of Event Sponsorships for The New York Times

Together, they explore strategies for engaging sponsors, navigating budget constraints, and enhancing the sponsor experience to secure early commitments and maximize ROI. The conversation offers a blend of personal anecdotes, practical tips, and forward-thinking approaches to crafting meaningful partnerships with sponsors in an industry where expectations and dynamics are continuously shifting.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

1. How to craft compelling sponsorship packages that offer real value and incentives for early sign-ups is crucial in today's competitive environment

2. Ways to build and maintain strong relationships with sponsors by listening to their needs and aligning with their goals can lead to more meaningful and lucrative partnerships

3. The power of creativity in how sponsorships are pitched and delivered can help stand out and cater to both large corporations and smaller organizations, enhancing the overall event experience for sponsors.

For show notes, the transcript, and more, visit 

In this episode, hear from TIME Executive Editor and Chief Events Officer Dan Macsai, whose dual role sees him curating influential people lists like the TIME100 while spearheading the magazine's event portfolio. Macsai shares insights into the list-making process and the challenges and triumphs of executing events in new locations. 

He also emphasizes the importance of community building beyond events, leveraging editorial content to create year-round engagement and the indispensable human element in the age of AI. This episode provides a unique look into the strategies that make TIME's events successful, the power of lists in fostering community, and the evolving landscape of event planning in 2024.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

1. How TIME's editorial lists serve as a core strategy for developing meaningful events and fostering influential communities

2. The challenges, importance of community grace, and thrill of expanding TIME's global footprint in uncharted territories like Africa

3. The importance of meeting attendee expectations to deliver more than just a one-off gathering

For the full transcript and additional show notes, visit https://www.bizzabo.com/podcast/dan-macsai-TIME100-events

In this engaging episode, we sit with Senior Manager of Global Internal Events and Conferences at Delta Air Lines, Marrah Thomas. She shares insights into the dynamic world of corporate event planning, emphasizing the importance of creating meaningful employee engagement events.

Thomas explores the crucial role events play in building company culture and fostering employee engagement, particularly in large organizations like Delta. She also outlines the airline’s approach to large-scale events, including BLVD Bash, and underscores the company’s focus on inclusivity and diversity. The discussion also delves into the evolving landscape of events post-pandemic, the power of authentic connections, and the ever-changing demands of the events industry.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• Innovative event design and the importance of creating inclusive experiences for a diverse audience

• Engagement beyond events and the need for continuous, 365-day employee engagement and interaction

• The importance of consistent, resonant content delivery across various platforms and the value of fostering genuine connections

Mentioned in This Episode

• BLVD Bash

• Experimental Aviation Association (EAA)

• The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work (book)

• It Was Said (podcast)

• Marrah Thomas on LinkedIn

In this dynamic episode about maximizing post-event success, host Lauren McCullough — Bizzabo’s VP of Marketing — is joined by this panel of experts: 

• Monique Ruff-Bell, Head of Events, TED

• Gianna Gaudini, Event Strategist, Advisor, and Author of The Art of Event Planning

• Anthony Kennada, Cofounder and CEO, AudiencePlus

These three industry insiders delve into the essentials of nurturing and converting event-generated leads, fostering communities for brand advocacy, and creatively repurposing event content to extend reach and engagement. Ruff-Bell shares insights on creating emotive experiences that foster long-term community engagement, while Kennada discusses the importance of audience data in shaping event content. Gaudini emphasizes the need for a strong sales enablement strategy and the benefits of diversifying content formats to cater to different audience preferences. 

The conversation illuminates how to harness the power of events for sustained marketing success, leveraging technology and innovative strategies to maintain engagement throughout the year.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• The importance of pre-planning and building a solid sales enablement strategy before each event to ensure actionable outcomes and sales success

• Strategies for creating and sustaining engaging event communities by focusing on emotive experiences and continuous interactions

• Insights on how to effectively repurpose and diversify event content across different platforms for extended audience reach and engagement

Mentioned in This Episode

• The state of in-person B2B conferences 

• The Art of Event Planning (book)

• Monique Ruff-Bell on LinkedIn 

• Gianna Gaudini on LinkedIn 

• Anthony Kennada on LinkedIn 

Note: This podcast episode originally aired as a webinar in December 2023. Want to watch the webinar? It’s available on-demand here.

Heather Odendaal (CEO of WNORTH) shares how her career in events led to the launch of WNORTH. We also discuss content, speakers, and scaling an event community from grassroots to a global brand.

Heather is the CEO of WNORTH, an event series for women on a path to executive leadership. Heather is an accomplished entrepreneur and event producer. She has worked on Canada’s most influential events including the Whistler Film Festival, Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival, and the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

In this episode, host Rachel Moore sits down with Hugh Forrest, the Co-president and Chief Programming Officer of SXSW. With roughly 35 years of experience with SXSW, Forrest explores the evolution of this monumental event and its impact on — and takeover of — Austin, Texas. 

He delves into the complexities of managing a city-wide festival, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and adapting to the changing events landscape. Forrest's insights into fostering community, embracing creativity, and ensuring attendee satisfaction offer a compelling look into the world of large-scale event management.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• The importance of building and maintaining a strong community and how community feedback and engagement have been crucial to the evolution and success of SXSW

• The challenges and opportunities in adapting SXSW to a changing world, including navigating the pandemic and embracing technological advancements like AI

• Why SXSW's commitment to fostering a diverse range of creative industries and encouraging interdisciplinary interactions is a key aspect of its enduring appeal and success

Mentioned in This Episode

• Pivot podcast by Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway

• The Daily podcast from The New York Times

• All In podcast

• International Women’s Day

• The Cluetrain Manifesto: The End of Business as Usual by Rick Levine, Christopher Locke, Doc Searls, and David Weinberger

• Hugh Forrest on LinkedIn

In this episode, hear from Howard Givner, Senior Vice President of Knowledge and Innovation at PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association), as he shares insights on creating meaningful event experiences and discusses EduCon. You may also know Givner as the former founder and CEO of the Event Leadership Institute, which PCMA acquired.

Tune in to this episode to learn more about empowering attendees with actionable takeaways to create truly transformative experiences. Plus, hear about how Givner created a unique tech lab series where attendees could delve deeper into emerging technologies.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• The importance of intentional event design and how to move away from formulaic approaches

• How moving beyond superficial product discovery helps organizers embrace more immersive learning formats

• Key strategies for increasing event impact and ensuring a positive return on investment (ROI) 

Mentioned in This Episode

• PCMA

• Event Leadership Institute

• EduCon

• Convening Leaders

• The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

• The Rebooting podcast by Brian Morrissey

• Howard Givner on LinkedIn

Brad Ehrlich, (General Manager, Markey’s) shares his experience helping clients shift to virtual events and how he and his team are already supporting the technical aspects of hybrid.

Brad joined the Markey's team in 1994 as a driver/rental technician and quickly learned all facets of the event industry. He was soon promoted to management and took over Markey’s in-house services at multiple hotel facilities in the Indianapolis area.

Now as the General Manager at Markey’s Rental and Staging, Brad oversees corporate strategic and operational initiatives at the Indianapolis headquarters.

Andréa Long (Global Diversity Events Manager at Twilio) discusses Twilio's After Hours Events program, how employee resource groups can be a powerful catalyst for change, diversity and inclusion best practices, and weighted blankets.

Prior to Twilio, Andréa managed branding, marketing, and events on the recruiting team at Lyft, co-led Lyft's black employee resource group, and launched the company's first series of events celebrating Black History Month. She also co-founded Our Collective, a community resource group for professionals across Silicon Valley.

In this podcast episode, Evan Babins, Experiential Marketing Specialist at Bond Brand Loyalty, discusses his experience producing successful roadshow events in four cities for a software client. The events brought together small- to medium-sized businesses in the accounting and financial services industry.

Babins sheds light on the complexities of planning successful events and the importance of prioritizing attendee needs, data-driven decision-making, and professional adaptability in the ever-changing events landscape.

Here’s what else you’ll hear about in this episode of Event Experience: 

• The importance of focusing on attendee experience by tailoring the event to the attendee's perspective

• Why it’s crucial to collect and analyze data from event registrations and post-event surveys to improve future events

• The power of being open to new experiences, challenges, and feedback — because those who are willing to learn, embrace change, and say yes to opportunities are more likely to succeed in the industry

Mentioned in This Episode

• Bond Brand Loyalty 

• Evan Babins on Instagram 

• Evan Babins on LinkedIn

In this episode, we’ll walk a mile in exhibitors’ shoes with Adam Jones to reduce frustration and maximize value at your events.

In our own version of Undercover Boss, we examine the realities of the exhibitor experience at today’s trade shows with Adam Jones. From applications consisting of hundreds of pages to a mashup of different vendors for booth activations, the trade show journey may leave much to be desired, which means we have all the opportunity to make it better in the future. 

Adam Jones is the CEO and Founder of FFAIR.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• Stats about frustration levels exhibitors experience at today’s tradeshows

• Ways event planners can improve exhibitor onboarding

• Ideas to increase exhibitor retention and capture new business by delivering exceptional experiences

Mentioned in this episode

• Adam Jones on LinkedIn

• The Lean Startup

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit https://www.bizzabo.com/podcast/2024-event-industry-trends-webinar.

In this engaging episode of Event Experience, host Rachel Moore sits down with Deesha Dyer, the former White House Social Secretary and current president Hook & Fasten Consulting, to delve into the intricacies of planning high-profile events at the White House. 

Dyer shares her journey from being an event geek to orchestrating one of the most notable events of the Obama administration: the visit of Pope Francis. The conversation provides a rare glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of managing events on the world stage, including managing a diverse team of professionals and the logistics of welcoming international dignitaries. 

As president of Hook & Fasten Consulting, Dyer focuses on creating authentic partnerships, achieving meaningful community impact, and championing inclusivity. 

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

1) The creativity and strategic thinking involved in planning high-profile events, including showcasing diversity and connecting with wider audiences 

2) The unique pressures of working in the White House — from wardrobe malfunctions to meeting expectations of dignitaries and the public 

3) The importance of community involvement in events and the potential to make a meaningful impact

For show notes, mentions, and the full transcript, visit https://www.bizzabo.com/podcast/deesha-dyer-inclusion-white-house-events

Angel Micarelli is an experienced writer who has leveraged her passion for storytelling in marketing and events. After graduating from Harvard, Angel went on to help brands tell their stories and connect with their audiences through carefully crafted messaging.

As the Senior Vice President of Strategy and Content at Cramer, Angel helps their clients realize their vision through marketing and events. With over 20 years of experience, she offers clients the unique talent of conveying complex products and technologies with clarity and creativity. Her track record of successful integrated branding and multi-channel marketing programs includes working with industry leaders such as Siemens Healthineers, Fidelity, ADP, UPS, and IBM.

In this episode, you’ll learn how technical production effectively merges with event planning through constructive communication and a spirit of service. 

Cameron Magee shares the critical role of saying “no” as technical production teams strive to serve event planners. His journey from a young volunteer at his church to owning a national event production company informs his experience with common pitfalls in event production, the necessity of early and deep engagement with A/V teams, and the unique dynamics of managing an event from the production perspective. 

Cameron is the owner of avad3, an A/V event production company he first formed from his college dorm room, that now serves nationwide events and the people who plan them. 

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• Key differences between event planners and A/V technical support staff

• Career advice for professionals looking to enter technical production

• Practical tips on how to work effectively with A/V technicians

Mentioned in this episode

• Cameron Magee on LinkedIn

• avad3 Event Production 

• Who Not How by Dan Sullivan

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/cameron-magee-av-event-production.

Tune in as Host Rachel Moore dives into the intricacies of using post-event data to shape future event successes with industry experts The Event Strategist Founder Nicola Kastner and Lenovo Global Events Manager Jon Wolff. 

The discussion opens up the challenges of analyzing event data, the potential of AI in streamlining this process, and the practical steps toward transforming these insights into actionable strategies for 2024. Through a blend of expert opinions and actionable advice, the conversation sheds light on the crucial role of data in event planning, the pitfalls to avoid, and how AI tools can offer a competitive edge in interpreting vast amounts of data. 

With an extensive background in event marketing strategy, Kastner emphasizes the significance of aligning event objectives with business goals and using data to inform every event planning stage. On the other hand, Wolff shares his experience in leveraging data for ROI optimization and the importance of sales and marketing alignment in utilizing event data effectively. 

Together, they explore the essential metrics for measuring event success, the common challenges in data analysis, and how to overcome these obstacles to create impactful and memorable events.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• The importance of clearly defined objectives in collecting and analyzing event data to drive future event strategies.

• How AI and machine learning tools can assist in uncovering trends and actionable insights from post-event data.

• Strategies for overcoming common data analysis challenges, including the need for standardization and avoiding biases in AI-assisted data interpretation.

Mentioned in This Episode

• ChatGPT

• SAP 

• Lenovo

• Rachel Moore on LinkedIn

• Nicola Kastner on LinkedIn

• Jon Wolff on LinkedIn

In this episode, we welcome back Nicola Kastner to the show to talk about the power of data to define event strategy and how to start to rethink the ‘why’ behind events.

Nicola Kastner is a multidimensional event trailblazer, Nicola has led from both the brand and agency sides of the business. She is the Founder of The Event Strategist, a boutique consultancy firm that offers event strategy advisory services to global brands to help them successfully optimize their event experiences to drive bottom-line results.

Before launching her consulting practice, Nicola held various roles on both the brand and agency sides of the business, including most recently as the Global Vice President of Event Marketing Strategy for SAP, where she was responsible for designing and optimizing event strategies for events ranging from 25 to 25,000 people.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation: 

• Utilizing data to define event strategy
• Focusing on data in the future of events
• Rethinking the ‘why’ behind events

In this enlightening episode, we’re joined by Pauline Kwasniak, a seasoned event professional and advocate for integrating corporate social responsibility (CSR) in events. As CEO at Finedeeds.com — a platform for businesses and events to engage employees and measure their collective social impact — she discusses the importance of CSR in creating memorable and impactful events. 

She emphasizes that doing good is not only a noble pursuit but a strategic business decision. Through her work, Kwasniak aims to make CSR an industry standard, underscoring the role of events in driving social change and fostering a sense of community.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

1) How incorporating CSR into events boosts marketing, enhances brand image, and meets attendee expectations for social impact

2) Why CSR initiatives must resonate with an event’s audience and stakeholders in a meaningful way to create a memorable experience and amplify social impact.

3) The trend toward showcasing social impact footprints and how growing CSR initiatives indicate a greater expectation for events to contribute positively to societal and environmental causes

For the full transcript and additional show notes, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/pauline-kwasniak-CSR-in-event-management

Marco Giberti shares what event and marketing professionals can learn from COVID-19. Featuring tips on producing virtual events and embracing a hybrid event strategy.

Marco has more than 25 years of intensive experience as Co-Founder and CEO in media, technology, and the events industry companies. In this capacity, he sits on Boards of Directors as well as on advisory boards and he assists co-founders and CEOs in consultative capacities to help drive business planning, growth, and strategy.

Lauren Lawson (Director of Events and Engagement Programs at the National Audubon Society) opens up about her trajectory from healthcare to conservation, lessons that she’s learned throughout her career in the nonprofit sector, and how the events team at the National Audubon Society is creating engaging virtual events now and planning for the future.

As the Director of Events and Engagement Programs at the National Audubon Society, Lauren oversees the events program taking place across the network and works to ensure the events help move Audubon’s mission forward. Prior to this, she worked with The Trust for Public Land, where she managed events ranging from the organization’s annual gala to helping develop their Park Bench Chat series.

Say hello to Aleksandra Panyukhina, the Director of Experience Marketing at Pixelz, who brings more than 12 years of expertise in the events industry to this episode of Event Experience. 

Listen in as Panyukhina (pronounced Pan-YOO-keenah) discusses the importance of creating intimate, memorable experiences — aka micro-events — that foster genuine connections and trust. For Panyukhina, these smaller events contrast with larger-scale events where such personal engagement is often lacking.

She also shares her approach to experience marketing, which encompasses events, account-based marketing (ABM), partner marketing, and community building. The conversation also delves into the logistical and strategic aspects of organizing micro-events. 

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• The macro impact of micro-events in creating lasting relationships and trust with target accounts

• Why small-scale events require a deeper audience understanding and a focus on creating comfortable, engaging environments

• How collaboration with sales teams and internal stakeholders is crucial for aligning event goals with broader business objectives

Mentioned in this episode

• Pixelz

• Account-based experience (ABX)

• Christian Dior Destiny by Marie France Pochna

• Aleksandra Panyukhina on LinkedIn

Andrea Rosen (Head of 99U, Adobe) shares the history of 99U and how it has evolved over the years. she discusses curating creativity, balancing experience and substance, and some of the best ways to organize to-dos.

Having lead the marketing team at a company that serves architects and press relations for a music festival, Andrea has a long career of working in marketing roles for creative audiences. She is passionate about curation and has an encyclopedic knowledge of trends, influencers, and events.

Joey Hinson (Director of Operations, TechCrunch) discusses the challenges of scaling TC Disrupt, the value of qualitative feedback, why sometimes you're better off not feeding attendees, the future of event technology, and how events are helping to democratize the startup landscape.

Leading the operations behind Disrupt and TechCrunch’s events and advertising programs, Joey has been with TechCrunch for over seven years. During that time has seen first-hand how the organization’s event program has grown.

Grab a coffee or hit the open road to listen to Senior ABX Manager of Corporate Events at 6sense Angela Sadighian share her extensive experience and strategic approach to corporate event planning. Sadighian discusses her journey from organizing weddings to orchestrating large-scale corporate events, emphasizing the importance of integrating AI technology to enhance attendee engagement and optimize event outcomes. 

With a focus on 6sense's annual user conference, Breakthrough, Sadighian outlines how strategic planning, audience targeting, and innovative tech integration have led to substantial growth in attendance and engagement.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

1) How integrating AI and predictive analytics can transform event engagement and operational efficiency

2) The key metrics organizers should track to measure ROI, including pipeline influence and attendee engagement

3) How to create “wow” moments through thoughtful venue choices, personalized interactions, and technology like the Klik SmartBadge™ 

For the full transcript, resources mentioned in the episode, and more, please visit https://www.bizzabo.com/podcast/angela-sadighian-AI-event-tech-smart-badges.

In this episode of Event Experience, you’ll learn how Airtable Head of Events Gianna Gaudini planned and executed the brand’s inaugural marquee event, the Airtable Leaders Forum (ALF).

The team at Airtable designed ALF to accomplish multiple goals for different audiences, including driving pipeline, announcing a new category, and showcasing thought leadership from the CEO. Gaudini shares the ins and outs of the event planning process and setting goals for ALF, including the strategic decision-making involved in focusing on specific goals, targeting the right audience, and maximizing the event's impact. 

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• How to create reasonable goals and leverage event data to make incremental improvements

• How to prioritize your event goals and stick to what truly matters

• The significance of post-event feedback, analysis, debrief sessions, NPS scores, press coverage, pipeline goals, and more

Mentioned in This Episode

• 2022 Airtable Leaders Forum Key Takeaways

• 2023 Airtable Leaders Forum Key Takeaways

• Huberman Lab podcast

• Gianna Gaudini on LinkedIn

• "Gianna's Million Dollar Event Career” Course (Bizzabo15 to get 15% off!)

Chris Duke (Senior Manager, Global Event Marketing at Rubrik) shares his thoughts on leading with empathy, working with agencies, launching a global field marketing campaign and a user conference, event exhibition strategy, working with agencies, and his final verdict on the latest entry in the Fast and Furious franchise.

Chris oversees Rubrik's global event program. Before joining Rubrik, Chris worked at brands like DC Shoes, Red Bull, and GoPro—granting him a unique B2C perspective on B2B marketing.

Alyson Griffin, VP of Global Marketing at Intel, shares why events are a powerful medium for storytelling. Along the way, we discussed virtually dissected frogs, snot bots, whales, Star Wars, and how Alyson made went from being a pharmacist to a global marketing VP.

For the past three years, Alyson has been on a mission to spread awareness around Intel’s B2B Operations. Before working at Intel, Alyson spent 15 years at Hewlett-Packard which culminated in her role as Vice President of Americas Marketing.

It's that time again: You're gearing up for your next sales kickoff (SKO). In this episode of Event Experience, we’ll share how you can outdo last year's event, blend education with celebration, and set your sales and go-to-market teams up for a triumphant year ahead.

Reimagine your SKO and gain insights to elevate your internal gatherings in this timeless discussion featuring industry experts Kerry Taylor from Workday, Lauren Grady from Vimeo (formerly of Bizzabo!), and Sarah Shaheen from Amplitude.

Tune in to discover how to craft an engaging agenda, select a diverse and esteemed set of speakers, foster genuine employee interactions, and make employee celebrations truly memorable. 

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• How to build an SKO agenda that educates and energizes 

• Tips for creating an environment that fosters employee connection 

• Strategies to make moments of recognition more meaningful

Note: This podcast episode originally occurred as a webinar in mid-2022, but the content and strategies are truly evergreen.

In this episode, we talk with Mita Mallick about how her own event experiences inspired her to write a book debunking myths about inclusion. 

Mallick is head of inclusion, equity, and impact at Carta and previously led diversity & inclusion and cross-cultural marketing at Unilever. Her inclusive culture-building efforts led to Unilever's gender-balanced management and recognition as the #1 Company for Working Mothers in 2018 and #2 for Best Employers for Women in 2020. She also co-created a Cultural Immersions series, training more than 5,000 marketers on enhancing cultural competency.

Mallick is a champion of inclusivity and belonging in successful event experience design. In our conversation, she shares both positive and negative experiences she has had at conferences and encourages event professionals and attendees to prioritize diversity and inclusion, use their power to influence event planning decisions, and advocate for diverse representation. 

Despite facing rejections and challenges in the publishing process, Mallick is determined to share her insights and experiences through her book, Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace. 

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation: 

• The challenges of achieving diversity and inclusion at conferences

• The impact that a lack of representation and self-segregation can have on an event

• The importance of selecting diverse panelists and creating inclusive environments

• The impact of the small things, such as makeup and hair services, venue selection, and catering

Mentioned in This Episode

• Mita Mallick on LinkedIn

• Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace

• The Anxious Achiever: Turn Your Biggest Fears into Your Leadership Superpower

• I’m Not Yelling: A Black Woman’s Guide to Navigating the Workplace

• Brown Table Talk podcast 

Keyana Kashfi is the Global Director of Experiential & Content Production for Spotify where she acts as the Executive Producer, bringing Spotify’s brand to life through events and experiences across the globe. Keyana spearheads production for Spotify’s largest executions at industry events such as Cannes Lions and other global tentpoles, as well as major owned events like Stream On.

Keyana has spent her career in event production with a focus on media and entertainment brands, executing both B2B and B2C activations. Prior to joining Spotify, she served as a producer and led production and video content teams for organizations such as NBC, Vevo, Discovery Communications, and CNN. 

In this episode, Josh Shepherd, the Head of Event Technology and Innovation at Atlassian, delves into the evolving landscape of event technology. With a rich background working for companies like Microsoft, BW Events Tech, and Swoogo, Shepherd discusses how technology — especially AI — is reshaping attendee experiences in both digital and in-person events. 

Shepherd shares insights from his role at Atlassian, highlighting how a robust event tech stack is crucial for creating fresh, engaging experiences. The conversation also explores the evolving nature of in-person and digital events post-COVID, underscoring the need to differentiate these experiences based on attendee needs and interactions.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• The significance of adopting a digital-first mindset in event planning

• The innovative uses for AI in events, from content indexing to creating personalized engagement pathways for attendees

• The need to focus on the attendee experience to craft events that resonate

Mentioned in This Episode

• Atlassian

• ChatGPT

• TED talks

• Netflix

• Josh Shepherd on LinkedIn

Karl Vontz (VP of Brand Experience at Rubicon Project) discusses the quirky expertise of awards shows, speaking to the aspirations of your audience, and what it takes to push for diversity and representation in events.

Karl has a long history of working in events and festivals from the Shorty Awards to the Lions Festival and Clio Awards—among others. He’s worked with leading brands like The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, and Adweek. In 2012, he was named the Most Innovative Event Pro by BizBash Media.

Join us as we dive into the future of event planning! This episode explores event trends and insights for 2024, particularly conscious conferencing, DE&I, sustainability in event planning, the evolving dynamics of sponsorships, and the increasing role of AI and event tech in enhancing attendee engagement. 

The conversation offers a comprehensive outlook on how these elements will shape the future of events, providing valuable insights for professionals in the field. Tune in to hear host Will Curran, Bizzabo’s Head of Klik, tackle the year ahead with the following industry luminaries:

• Adam Parry, Cofounder & Editor at Event Industry News

• Greg DeShields, Executive Director at Tourism Diversity Matters

• Lauren Olerich, Senior Director of Corporate Events at Gainsight

• Christine Renaud, CEO and Cofounder at Braindate by e180

• Bob Johnston, Founder and CEO at the Executive Council

• Nicola Kastner, Founder of The Event Strategist

• Brandt Krueger, Senior Production Manager at EideCom

Here’s just a small sample of what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• Why attendees care more than ever about conscious conferencing (i.e., the intersection of events that prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability)

• Effective ways to attract sponsors by understanding their KPIs and offering them opportunities to showcase their expertise

• The increasingly significant role of AI in driving data-driven events, helping in areas such as design conceptualization, attendee engagement, and more efficient planning

Mentioned in This Episode

• Adam Parry on LinkedIn

• Greg DeShields on LinkedIn

• Lauren Olerich on LinkedIn

• Christine Renaud on LinkedIn

• Bob Johnston on LinkedIn

• Nicola Kastner on LinkedIn

• Brandt Krueger on LinkedIn

In this episode, host Rachel Moore and experts from Smyle and Bizzabo explore the fundamentals of strategic event design. The panel features professionals from Smyle — James Howitt, Director of Client Experience & Development; Sophie Hulf, Senior Creative Strategist; Nick Thomas, Technical Director; and Jacob Palmer, Producer — and from Bizzabo — Kacie Finance, Vice President of Sales. 

Together, the panel discusses key pain points and priorities like defining event briefs, integrating technology, and understanding audience needs.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• The origin and impact of Bizzabo Studios

• Critical elements of strategic event design

• How event technology supports and drives innovative event design for the future

Mentioned in this episode

• James Howitt on LinkedIn 

• Sophie Hulf on LinkedIn 

• Nick Thomas on LinkedIn 

• Jacob Palmer on LinkedIn 

• Kacie Finance on LinkedIn

• Bizzabo Studios

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/event-design-smyle-bizzabo-studios.

In this episode, we talk with Ryan Schefke and Brad Froese about new ways to increase engagement at events.

Ryan Schefke is the Founder and CEO of Captello, a premier end-to-end lead capture and event engagement software platform. 

Brad Froese is a marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in network television, public speaking, magazine publication, non-profit, and SaaS marketing.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation: 

• Overcoming the challenges of engagement at events before the pandemic
• Capturing leads via engagement activations at events
• Rethinking how to increase engagement at events in the future

Mentioned in This Episode

• Captello Arcade
• The Event Squad Cast

In this episode, you’ll learn about balancing creative and logistical aspects of events, ensuring a high return on investment, and integrating experiential marketing with traditional marketing methods.

Kelly Markus is the CVO at Hunters Point.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• Experiential vs. traditional marketing ideas

• Examples of social media and public relations campaigns

• Advice to measure ROI during and beyond event delivery

Mentioned in this episode

• Kelly Markus on LinkedIn

• Hunters Point

• Vionic and Vivaia shoes

Nicola Kastner (Global Head of Event Marketing Strategy at SAP) shares how she and the team transformed SAPPHIRE NOW—SAP’s annual flagship conference. Along the way we discussed ABM strategy, creating data-driven content journeys, what IKEA, Disney World and grocery shopping have to do with professional events, and why it pays to be an Excel nerd.

Working alongside the Head of Global events, Nicola is in charge of overseeing SAP’s event strategy. Before Nicola formally joined the team in 2016, she was assisting SAP in a consultative capacity for several years. All said and done, Nicola has accumulated over 20 years of events experience, working on both the agency and in-house side.

Erin Flannery (Head of Events at Lattice) shares her thoughts on prioritizing budget within a growing event program, launching a user conference, sponsorship negotiation, feels vs. metrics, where direct mail can fit into a larger event marketing strategy, and much more.

As the first Events hire at Lattice, Erin built the events program from the ground up creating a full-scale program that includes sponsorships, dinners, workshops and Lattice’s inaugural conference—Resources for Humans Live.

Vasil Azarov (Founder, Growth Marketing Conference) shares how to launch an event from scratch, how to collaborate with partners and sponsors, the best channels for driving growth, the emergence of the “event marketing” category, and wine.

Since founding GMC, Vasil has scaled it to over 106K members. He is also the CEO of Startup Socials—which is dedicated to providing resources for founders—and has worked with large brands like IBM and Delta Airlines and high growth startups like Autopilot and Zendesk.

In this episode, Event Experience podcast host Rachel Moore interviews Bizzabo Head of Klik Will Curran (aka the founder of Endless Events).  

Curran discusses the evolution of event management, emphasizing the integration of data analysis and the growing influence of AI in the events industry. He shares his experiences with Klik technology, which provides more in-depth data for in-person events — similar to what was available for virtual events. He also looks back on his predictions for 2023 and notes the accuracy of some and the surprise of others.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this episode: 

• How the events industry is increasingly leveraging AI and data analysis to enhance the attendee experience and measure ROI

• The trend toward prioritizing networking and interaction over content overload at events 

• The importance of adapting to new trends — like conscious conferencing — and using AI to stay competitive in event management 

Mentioned in This Episode

• IMEX

• INBOUND

• Endless Events

• Klik Experiential

• ChatGPT

• Electric Forest

• Will Curran on LinkedIn

Monique Ruff-Bell (Events Director at Money20/20) discusses Cannes Lions, growing your career with mentors and sponsors, how to make big events feel small, supporting women in leadership, and singing karaoke around the globe.

Monique is the Event Director at Money 20/20 USA and VP of Events at its parent company Ascential plc. Monique’s responsibilities include setting the show vision and strategy with the Global President, plan execution, P&L management, and sales and marketing support and performance.

In this episode, Agorapulse Head of Strategic Partnerships Mike Allton dives deep into his experience as an event producer and his journey from virtual events with influencers to hosting the Agency Summit with more than 3,000 attendees. 

Mike shares insights into marketing tactics and relationship ROI, emphasizing the importance of talking to the target audience to understand their challenges and create events that address their needs.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• Why it's crucial to focus on your event’s target audience, understand their challenges, and tailor content accordingly

• How using prerecorded content for virtual events can reduce stress and potential issues on the day of the event — plus its role in content repurposing

• How collaborating with brand partners can help with lead generation and promotion

Mentioned in This Episode

• Agency Summit 

• The Social Media Hat (blog)

• American Marketing Association

• IntrovertU (podcast)

• The Menagerie (book)

• Robin Dimond + Fifth and Cor

• Julius Solaris

• Rand Fishkin on LinkedIn

• Mike Allton on LinkedIn

Rex Serrao is the Senior Director of Marketing Technology at Salesforce. For years, Salesforce has successfully led the way for in-person events with household name event brands like Dreamforce and the World Tour Series. More recently the Salesforce team has pioneered the virtual event space, and are now paving the way for the hybrid models of the future.

Rex has held IT roles across a variety of industries for more than 10 years. Starting as a remediation consultant bringing troubled projects across the finish line, he went on to run application development, PMOs, product organizations and Technology strategy functions in financial services, insurance, and healthcare domains.  As the Senior Director of Marketing Technology, Rex currently runs the global event and brand technology capability at Salesforce.

In this episode, we talk with Bizzabo's Rachel Heller about how to champion DE&I at every stage of your event plan.

Rachel Heller is an event content professional with more than a decade of experience working in the technology space on events ranging from 50 to 50,000 attendees.

Heller leads content strategy for Bizzabo-hosted events and contributes to programming for additional thought leadership initiatives. She is a member of the Event Content Council and has held event content strategy roles at Sage Intacct and PTC. She is passionate about crafting diverse, equitable, and inclusive speaker lineups and providing attendees with engaging content.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation: 

• How to ensure DE&I hits every corner of your event strategy
• How to choose a diverse and inclusive speaker lineup
• How to ensure your event is a reflection of your attendees
  
• Simple ways to get started weaving inclusion into your event

Mentioned in This Episode

• “How To Build a Diverse Speaker Lineup for Your Event”
• The Guide To Building a DE&I-Driven Event Strategy
• The Event Experience Summit
• Black Speakers Collection
• Innovation Women
• Shine Bootcamp
• Global Diversity CFP Day
• The Women/Womxn, Black, Indigenous, POC, and Inclusivity Speaker Initiative
• Women Talk Design
• Event Leadership Institute DEI Strategist Certification
• Gender Avenger
• Speeko
• Yoodli

Julius Solaris, Alon Alroy, and Nicola Kastner sit down for a lively discussion about the event industry’s most pressing issues. 

Jessica is an experienced marketing professional with a demonstrated history of success at SaaS businesses, growth-stage companies and tech startups. She is a strong leader invested in developing marketing talent and teamwork. Jessica has been at Movable Ink for 6 years, holding 4 roles within the marketing team.

As Vice President of Marketing at Movable Ink, Jessica leads a team responsible for all global performance marketing activities including demand generation, ABM, client, partner, content, and events marketing. In her role, she created and launched the Think Summit, annual conference, as well as two roadshow programs: the Experience Transformation Tour (formerly the Email Transformation Tour) and the X Series.

Joey Graziano is the Senior Vice President of Global Business Operations and Global Events at the NBA.

Joey leads strategic planning, business development, data analytics, and process improvement for the NBA's marquee global events, including the NBA All-Star Game, NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV, and NBA draft. He and his team also orchestrated the NBA Bubble.

This episode — which aired recently as a webinar — provides a deep dive into the strategic world of event management, spotlighting the strategies and experiences of FT Live, the event arm of the Financial Times. 

Managing Director of FT Live Orson Francescone and Bizzabo’s Experience Lab Head Oren Berkovich explore the nuances of managing and scaling 200+ FT Live events annually. Francescone emphasizes the criticality of comprehensive processes, strategic scaling through investment, and the willingness to cull underperforming events to maintain a quality portfolio.

Francescone also highlights the indispensable role of content in driving event growth and ensuring attendee engagement, advocating for a content-led approach to event management. He encourages event planners to “Think Big” while emphasizing the vital role of marketing in ensuring event success and advocating for full use of marketing budgets to maximize event visibility and impact. 

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• Why strategic investment and scaling are pivotal in amplifying the success of events

• How to take a data-driven approach for more informed decision-making in event management

• The power of focusing on content quality and aggressive marketing for maximizing event impact and attendance

Mentioned in This Episode

• The state of in-person B2B conferences (report)

• FT Live

• Global Banking Summit 

• How the Financial Times event team drives growth at scale (webinar) 

• Orson Francescone on LinkedIn

Kelly Hoey dismantles everything you thought you knew about event networking in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Kim Darling (Vice President & Executive Producer, INBOUND) shares how HubSpot is thinking about the hybrid future, from sponsors and budgets to inspiration, all with an audience-first lens.

Kim leads the global event team at INBOUND, one of the most well-respected B2B events in the industry. Since 2014, Kim has grown the Global Events team from 2 to 20+ people and grown INBOUND registrants from 7,500 to 26,000+ and many more virtual attendees in 2020.

Under Kim's leadership, ticket and sponsorship revenue have grown exponentially and the team launched a media branch of the INBOUND experience that has achieved up to 1M views per week at its height while putting a spotlight on stories of company and personal growth.

Steve Randazzo (President, Pro Motion) shares lessons learned from 30 years in events, advice for breaking through the marketing clutter, how to measure return on emotion from experiential, and how to charge your brand with authenticity and purpose.

Steve has worked with clients like The Walt Disney Company, Hewlett-Packard, Anheuser-Busch, Citgo, the NBA, and many other great organizations. He's also the author of Brand Experiences: Building Connections in a Digitally Cluttered World.

This milestone 100th episode of the Event Experience podcast features a conversation between Host Rachel Moore and Bizzabo CMO and Cofounder Alon Alroy. This episode delves into the challenges and transformations in the event industry, particularly in light of recent technology advancements and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Alroy shares his insights on driving innovation at Bizzabo, the importance of taking a customer-centric approach, how Bizzabo has navigated changes to maintain its leadership in the event tech space, and so much more. 

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

1) How the podcast came into existence and how the pandemic prompted the beginnings of the Event Experience OS

2) Bizzabo’s innovative approach to blending event technology with user experience to craft memorable events

3) How Bizzabo listens to customer feedback to drive product development and ensure user satisfaction

4) Alroy’s perspective on the future of events with an emphasis on the need for data-driven decision-making

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit https://www.bizzabo.com/podcast/alon-alroy-100th-event-industry-podcast

Are you ready for Season 5 of the Event Experience podcast? Named one of the top event industry podcasts by multiple outlets and celebrated in the inaugural Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Event Technology Platforms, this podcast is one you can't miss.

Dive into the collective wisdom of top event planners and prepare for an all-new season on July 1. 🌟 Season 5 brings unprecedented access to the strategies that power the world’s most dynamic events. Packed with insights from industry leaders, this is your gateway to elevating your event planning game.

🎧 Follow and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform today and don’t miss an episode! Visit bizzabo.com/podcast for more.

Karen Merritt (Head of Owned and Operated Events, LinkedIn) shares a behind-the-scenes look at Talent Connect, how she and her team take a customer-centric approach to events, tips for creating networking opportunities, thoughts on segmenting audience data, and what marketers can learn from Disney Land.

At LinkedIn, Karen oversees the strategy and execution of roughly 200 proprietary events across the globe. Prior to LinkedIn, Karen had the opportunity to lead events at companies like Cisco and Splunk.

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore sits down with Liz King Caruso, CEO and Chief Event Strategist of Liz King Events, to explore the power of attendee obsession in event planning. 

With more than 13 years of experience in the industry, Liz shares her insights on designing events that allow participants to be themselves and connect authentically. The discussion centers on a recent event Liz organized for a foundation client with the goal of bringing their employees back together in person, fostering face-to-face interactions and sharing the organization's vision for the coming year. 

Through a well-crafted balance of content and experience, the event featured interactive activities, a healthy and delicious family-style lunch, and a unique silent disco that allowed participants to mingle and engage in a relaxing, comfortable setting. 

Here’s what you’ll learn about in this conversation:

• The importance of striking a balance between delivering valuable content and creating meaningful experiences for event attendees

• Why event planners should step outside of their comfort zones and be open to trying new things and considering unconventional ideas that align with attendees' interests and desires

• The value in gathering attendee feedback and creating opportunities for participants to express their thoughts and opinions openly 

Mentioned in This Episode

• techsytalk Inc.

• Liz King Events

• Smart Women, Smart Hustle

• Black Barn Restaurant in NYC

• Sound Off Experiences silent DJ company 

• Prince George Ballroom in NYC

• Cut the Shit, Cue the Genius podcast 

• Liz King Caruso on LinkedIn

Eleni Thomas (Director of Events and Meetings, KPMG) discusses the kind of processes needed for managing 2,500 events a year, the value of networking with other event planners, what it means to be a service-oriented events department, mitigating risk in a compliance-heavy industry, and owning mistakes.

Between Eleni's current role at KPMG and her 13 years of leading the events team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, Eleni has spent much of her career spearheading events for professional services organizations.

In this episode, Mathias Sondermann talks about SAP’s Sapphire and embracing standardization for scalability, the importance of localization, and the power of continuous learning.

Meet Senior Director of Events Mathias Sondermann, who has been with SAP for more than 15 years. In this episode, he takes us into SAP's largest customer-facing event, Sapphire, and does a bit of cultural globetrotting as he discusses the power of standardization, regional adaptation, and continuous learning — all in the name of promoting innovation and enabling scalability. 

Here is a sneak peek of what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• How standardizing certain aspects of events gives teams space to innovate at scale 

• The importance of localization and tailoring events to regional and cultural nuances 

• How collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning can improve the quality of events across the industry

Mentioned in This Episode

• SAP Sapphire 2023

• German Convention Bureau 

• Mathias Sondermann on LinkedIn

In this engaging episode of the Event Experience podcast, Eric Rutherford — Senior Producer at 15|40 Productions and former Director of Events at Hollywood Reporter — shares his fascinating journey from being an actor and model to becoming a celebrated event producer. He discusses his passion for creating impactful, emotional experiences through events and his transition into the industry, emphasizing the transformative power of bringing concepts to life.

Rutherford delves into his philosophy on partnerships in event production, highlighting the importance of collaboration, relationship-building, and being of service to others. He also touches on the balance between tradition and innovation in event design, advocating for a mix of tried-and-true methods with creative, forward-thinking approaches. Throughout the conversation, Rutherford’s enthusiasm for the craft of event production shines through, offering listeners a unique perspective on the art and business of creating memorable events.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• How Rutherford’s background in acting and modeling influenced his approach to event production, emphasizing creativity and emotional impact

• How building strong partnerships and collaborations in the industry is crucial for creating successful events.

• The importance of respecting traditional event formats while also pushing creative boundaries to keep events fresh and engaging

Mentioned in This Episode

• 15|40 Productions

• Showtime's Fellow Travelers

• Gary V

• Eric Rutherford on Instagram

• Eric Rutherford on LinkedIn

In this fresh episode of Event Experience, host Rachel Moore is joined by email marketing experts to discuss how to overcome common email marketing challenges faced by event professionals. Tune in to hear about effective strategies for improving email open rates, crafting compelling content, and using advanced segmentation and automation to enhance attendee engagement from the following experts: 

➡️ Kendra Ellis, former director of client services at SmartBug Media and current Sr. Director of Growth Marketing at RevPartners

➡️ LaShanda Jackson, global director of lifecycle marketing at Intuit Mailchimp

➡️ Ghazwan Almoazen, global experiential marketing demand and communications director at DocuSign

The discussion highlights the importance of aligning email marketing with attendee expectations and leveraging analytics to drive continuous improvement.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

1) How to craft emails with engaging subject lines and compelling calls to action that stand out in crowded inboxes

2) The importance of list segmentation and personalization in boosting email engagement rates

3) Insights into the role of analytics and automation in optimizing email campaigns and improving event marketing outcomes

For more insights and the full transcript, visit https://www.bizzabo.com/podcast/event-email-marketing-challenges

Devin Cleary (VP Experiential Marketing, PTC) shares lessons learned across his eclectic career, how to use data and personas to grow an event, how to retain and hire top talent, and why events need to try harder when it comes to diversity and inclusion.

By the time Devin joined PTC in 2016, he had already spearheaded the growth of HubSpot’s INBOUND event, overhauled the event program at the American Red Cross, and spent nearly 6 years orchestrating conferences and trade shows at his own events company.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Storycraft Lab’s Naomi Clare Crellin about facilitating a popup activation of taking the Google Xi (Experience Institute) community to IMEX Frankfurt. 

Naomi Clare Crellin is the founder and CEO of Storycraft Lab and editor and host of the Futures Forum, an innovation think tank. Her activation’s goal was to explore the Xi Days case study — from the launch of the Neu Project at IMEX 2022 to the recent Xi Days event — and the many industry tools and frameworks being developed around neuro inclusion. The event guided attendees onhow to advocate for the business value of belonging and motivate their communities to foster belonging in the events they create.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• The Xi community's mission to generate support systems, frameworks, and tools that facilitate universal inclusion in the event industry

• How the team created an activation centered on engaging participants in “googly” design sprints to reimagine radical inclusion

• The launch of the Belonging Index, which is a tool that challenges traditional demographics by focusing on individuals' values and provides insights for designing inclusive experiences

Mentioned in This Episode

• Storycraft Lab

• Xi at IMEX Frankfurt

• The Neu Project

• Valuegraphics

• Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides by Geoffrey L. Cohen 

• Naomi Clare Crellin on LinkedIn

• Contact: xi-external@google.com

• Megan Henshall on LinkedIn

In this episode, we sit down with Yvonne McNair, the Chief Experience Officer and Founder of Captivate Marketing Group. A two-time Emmy-nominated event producer with 20 years of experience in the events industry, McNair shares her journey from the music industry to establishing her own business. 

McNair — one of our 2022 Top Event Experience Leaders — is known as a powerhouse behind the scenes, closing deals and sculpting entertainment — one exquisite experience at a time. She has worked with some of the biggest names and brands in the entertainment industry, from grassroots organizations to Fortune 500 companies to A-List artists.

Tune in to hear McNair share her thoughts about the impact of 2023 on the events industry, the challenges posed by the pandemic, and the evolution of events during her storied career. Yvonne also touches on her experiences producing concerts and festivals, the influence of technology on events, and her hopes for the industry's future.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• The evolution of events, the rise in event technology, and the power of social and digital channels 

• How the pandemic forced event professionals to think outside the box and adapt to new ways of executing events and creating contingency plans

• The need for creativity and innovation to ensure the most impactful audience engagement and experiences

Mentioned in This Episode

• The Hustle of @617MikeBiv

• "Activate Your Greatness" by Alex Toussaint

• BizBash

• Captivate Marketing Group

• Yvonne McNair on Instagram

• Yvonne McNair on LinkedIn

Eran (guest speaker), Megan Murphy (guest speaker), and Devin (host) discuss the Event Experience category and its origins in the evolving expectations and challenges of event organizers.

Jennifer Hoffmann Roach shares how she and her team are taking a diversified approach to virtual event monetization, lessons learned from staging 30+ virtual events, and why a good grit is hard to find.

Jennifer is the Global Head of Audience for Bloomberg Live, the editorial live events division of Bloomberg Media. Prior to Bloomberg, Jenn managed global marketing and audience development for The Wall Street Journal Conferences division at Dow Jones and spent 10+ years in media and communications.

Devin and Daphne discuss the new role of the Event Experience Leader and the skillset needed to thrive in the evolving events environment.

Sean Doyle is an experiential event marketer who has leveraged his passion for events to tell brand stories and amplify their messages. Since graduating from the Cannes Lions School, Sean has worked in multiple different creative capacities and has helped many clients and companies successfully connect with their audiences through event marketing.

As the Experiential Marketing Lead at Pinterest in Europe, Sean creates live events and experiential marketing campaigns that engage their community of advertisers and creators. With over 30 years of experience, he consistently finds creative ways to tell the Pinterest brand story and drive comprehension of how Pinterest inspires hundreds of millions of people to build the lives they love.

In this episode, we talk with Orson Francescone of The Financial Times about building community through strategic events and investing in a digital-first event approach.

Francescone has worked in the B2B media and events industry for more than 15 years. He has led global conference and exhibitions businesses for Euromoney Institutional Investor, and Haymarket Media Group. Since November 2019, he has been managing director of FT Live, the global event business of the Financial Times. 

Throughout his career, Francescone has specialized in enabling publishers to monetize their content and drive high-margin revenues via all event formats, from conferences to awards ceremonies to large-scale exhibitions and trade shows and, more recently, digital events. He has launched some of the world's most successful and award-winning events, including Gastech, the Festival of Work, and, more recently, The Global Boardroom.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation: 

• Building community through strategic events
• Pivoting event strategy throughout the pandemic
• Executing a webinar with 6,000 registrations in just five days
• Supporting a team while shifting from in-person to virtual events
• Investing in a digital-first approach to events

In this episode, we talk with Julius Solaris, one of the most influential people in the events industry, well-followed for his research and analysis. He has founded several companies, including EventMB, which was acquired by Skift in 2019 and recently rebranded as Skift Meetings. Solaris is the founder of Boldpush, a management consulting agency for the event industry. He is a frequent keynote speaker at events all over the world.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• The status of in-person events and the importance of staying nimble amid ongoing uncertainty
• How to use data to be more strategic and intentional about your in-person events
• Why content is the key to delivering successful hybrid events
• Web3, the metaverse, and the massive opportunity for events

Mentioned in This Episode

• Julius Solaris on LinkedIn
• Julius Solaris (@tojulius) on Twitter
• Boldpush

Join Event Experience host Rachel Moore as she invites Ryan Howard, Senior Technical Program Manager at Google, to delve into the integration of technology in event spaces. Howard has more than 30 years of experience in engineering and technology, and his role at Google involves leading the technological strategy for the giant’s global event spaces, supporting various business units, and driving the company's tech-forward approach to events. 

Howard also co-leads the Google Experience Institute (XI), a hub for exploring the future of event experiences. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in designing technology for Google's diverse event spaces, ranging from executive briefing centers to sales-focused environments. He stresses the importance of aligning technology design to ensure tech enhances rather than detracts from the human experience. 

Tune in to this conversation to hear about the following:

• The crucial role of technology in shaping the success and innovation of events at Google 

• The importance of aligning technological solutions with the specific objectives and audience needs of each event

• Insights into Google's ongoing projects and initiatives in experience design, responsive environment design, and neurodivergent inclusion

Mentioned in This Episode

• Slough House book series by Mick Herron

• Goldman Sachs 

• Google Experience Institute (XI)

• IMEX Frankfurt

• The Sphere in Las Vegas

• Naomi Clare Crellin (founder and CEO of Storycraft Lab; editor and host of innovation think tank the Futures Forum; and Google XI participant)

• HKS for inclusive space design

• Ryan Howard on LinkedIn

Trista Myers (Head of Events, Salesforce Ventures) shares a behind the scenes look at Dreamforce, how Salesforce Ventures creates executive experiences, tips for working with multiple event partners, baking recipes, and why you should never sell yourself short when interviewing for your next role.

Trista leads all global events for Salesforce Ventures. In 2018 she was selected for Event Marketer's list of 35 National Experiential Event Professionals under 35 for her work at AOL and on Dreamforce.

Join us for a dynamic episode about the state of in-person events today — based on responses from more than 4,000 organizers and attendees who participated in Bizzabo’s in-person B2B conference survey from June 2023. 

In this podcast episode, you’ll hear from Kathryn Frankson, the Global Director of Marketing for Money 20/20; Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX — the largest global trade show for the events industry; and Huong Nguyen, the Head of Client Services at Shiloh Events.

These industry experts agree that in-person events are still the most valuable marketing channel and networking ecosystem for businesses but also acknowledge the rising cost of attendance and the need to compete with virtual events.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• Why in-person events are the most valuable marketing channel and networking ecosystem for businesses

• How to deliver networking and learning experiences that are valuable to attendees

• Tips on how to overcome and solve current challenges and address the attendee preferences

Mentioned in This Episode

• State of in-person B2B conferences report

• Kathryn Frankson on Linkedin

• Carina Bauer on LinkedIn

• Huong Nguyen on LinkedIn

• Shiloh Events

• IMEX

• Money20/20

Note: This podcast episode originally aired as a webinar in September 2023. Want to watch the webinar? It’s available on-demand here.

Helen Stoddard (Head of Global Events at Twitter) discusses what it takes to create buzzworthy events, why B2B and B2C events aren't really that different after all, and how events help drive Twitter's revenue strategy.

Helen owns Twitter's presence at large events like South by Southwest, Cannes, and CES. Prior to Twitter, Helen led events at Toys "R" Us and Nickelodeon, founded and managed her own event production company, and spent several years working on David Letterman's Tonight Show. #PinkSweats

David Adler (CEO of BizBash) shares the most unconventional fundraising story that you’ll ever hear, how to develop an event from an online brand, tips on securing sponsors and partners, event trends, and restaurant recs.

David founded Bizbash back in 2000 with the idea of creating the first marketplace for events and meeting professionals. Since then, BizBash has become a leading voice in the industry—boasting digital and print offerings, and producing the city-spanning BizBash Live event series.

In this episode, Host Rachel Moore brings together Makenzie Stokel and Channing Moreland, the cofounders of EVA, to explore the transformative power of entertainment in event planning. Delving into their unique roles and the genesis of EVA, an online marketplace for booking vetted entertainment, Stokel and Moreland share their expertise on selecting the right speakers and the impact of out-of-the-box activations that leave lasting impressions on attendees while advocating for the infusion of fun and interactive elements that connect deeply with attendees. 

For these EVA founders, engagement and entertainment go hand in hand in elevating the event experience. By aligning entertainment choices with the event’s goals and themes, they provide valuable insights for event professionals looking to captivate and inspire their audiences.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

1) Why entertainment and speakers should be woven into the fabric of event planning from day one

2) How customization and interactivity are essential to creating memorable and personalized activations

3) Ways to streamline finding and booking entertainment using tools like EVA

For show notes and a full transcript, visit https://www.bizzabo.com/podcast/eva-cofounders-event-entertainment

Richard is the President and General Manager of Superfly. Richard oversees Superfly’s agency services business and drives the development of award-winning strategic and creative marketing solutions for leading brands by leveraging Superfly’s unparalleled expertise in cultural storytelling, community building and experience creation.

With over 25 years of experience, Richard has held a variety of executive roles within global agency networks. Most recently, Black was Chief Growth Officer at Momentum Worldwide where he achieved unprecedented growth for the agency’s New York flagship office, greatly increasing client acquisition year-over-year and modernizing the agency’s brand across all communication channels. Throughout his career, Black has excelled at fostering innovation and collaboration with an inclusive leadership style that brings out the best in those with whom he works.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Natasha Wood, the Head of Strategy for FT Live, the events division of the Financial Times. Wood shares her extensive experience in the events industry, focusing on strategically using event content to enhance attendee experiences and achieve organizational goals. She also offers personal insights into her go-to resources and her passion for classic crime dramas and strategic business books, providing a well-rounded view of her professional and personal interests.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

1) The shifting landscape of event strategy, focusing on people, products, and processes to drive success in the dynamic world of events

2) The untapped potential of event content as a tool for ongoing engagement and strategic advantage

3) How the integration of data analysis and artificial intelligence is transforming event planning

For the full transcript and show notes, visit https://www.bizzabo.com/podcast/natasha-wood-harnessing-event-content-AI-data

Janna Erickson (Director of Events at Drift) discusses why you should consider hijacking events, the art of event marketing hand-to-hand combat, managing an events team from “startup” to “scale-up”, and parleying event expertise in discussions with key stakeholders.

Janna joined Drift in 2017 to help take the team’s event strategy to the next level. Prior to Drift, Janna accumulated over 8 years of event experience from working at brands like HubSpot, Kayak.com, and TomTom.

Donna Stewart (National Urban League) shares her passion and tips for focusing on the end-user experience with virtual events, the role of timelines and time management in virtual broadcasts, and the access that virtual events afford when it comes to featuring speakers and influencers that resonate with your audience.

As the Vice President of Events Management at National Urban League, Donna Stewart brings over 20 years of experience developing brand strategies for experiential touchpoints for consumers, managing multi-million dollar budgets, and leading teams of production professionals. Donna Stewart has produced events for brands like Essence, Black Enterprise, and Disney—before taking the helm of Events Management at the National Urban League. Well before COVID-19 forced event organizers to go virtual, Donna and her team staged live broadcasts and virtual events on behalf of the organization.

Ashley Jenkins, Meg Fasy, and Brent Turner discuss fresh strategies and get guidance for attracting new event sponsors and retaining current ones.

Nani Shaffer (Senior Director of Demand Generation & Marketing Operations at Demandbase) shares how events fit into a larger ABM strategy, how to align event KPIs with goals, and why event teams should think like sales teams.

Nani Shaffer brings a decade of B2B Marketing experience across Marketing Operations, Product Marketing and Demand Generation. Nani is responsible for the measurement and optimization of the Marketing organization and oversees the strategy and execution of integrated programs.

Would you believe that more than half of the feature films at the Sundance Film Festival rely on Dropbox? It’s true! In this episode, we host Vanessa Karlsson Dorau, Head of Global Events and Experiences at Dropbox, as she delves into two powerful engagement activations at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. 

Vanessa underscores Dropbox's strategic alliance with IndieWire Studio, which paved the way for meaningful interactions with filmmakers at the world-renowned event. This exclusive event activation allowed Dropbox to connect with filmmakers and showcase gratitude for their work while highlighting how Dropbox's tools, such as Dropbox Capture and Dropbox Replay, empower the creative process, especially for filmmakers who deal with large files. 

She also discusses a second activation, the Dropbox Edit Suite, which was a relaxed space where filmmakers could come together, immerse themselves in conversation, grab a drink, and maybe even walk away with their next great idea.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• How to use strategic collaborations to create meaningful event activations 

• The power of amassing content at your event — from testimonials to candid soundbites — to bolster marketing and branding efforts

• The importance of crafting personalized experiences — not one-size-fits-all experiences — to ensure maximum impact and more memorable events

Mentioned in This Episode

• Dropbox Edit Suite at Sundance

• IndieWire Studio

• Pretty Baby (movie) 

• Succession (TV show)

• "City of Girls" by Vanessa Gilbert (novel)

• Vanessa Karlsson Dorau on LinkedIn

In this episode, Event Experience host Rachel Moore interviews Ashley Ronkowski, a seasoned event professional with extensive experience in event planning and marketing. Ronkowski shares her comprehensive approach to event management, emphasizing the importance of being prepared and having a versatile event kit. She discusses her recent role at Calm and her journey through various facets of event planning, from managing social media to leading global events.

Ronkowski highlights the significance of building strong internal and external teams, detailing how crucial buy-in from all stakeholders, especially at the executive level, is for the success of any event. She also shares her personal strategies for self-care during high-stress event periods, advocating for a holistic approach to wellness. Throughout the conversation, Ronkowski emphasizes the value of community and collaboration in the events industry, providing insights on handling unexpected challenges and leveraging networks for success.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• The importance of having a comprehensive event kit to handle any unexpected situation 

• Why building strong internal and external teams is key to successful event execution 

• How to best leverage industry networks and embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and learning

Mentioned in This Episode

• Ellen Hilderbrand (author)

• Bravo (TV network)

• The Blonde Files podcast 

• The Daily Skimm

• 9 to 5ish podcast 

• Nicola Kastner’s episode on Event Experience

• Ashley Ronkowski on LinkedIn

Stacey brings 25 years of experience in the marketing and events industry and is a big believer in prioritizing engagement and events as part of an integrated marketing plan. With a focus on strategically aligning audience needs with brand go-to-market strategy and desired outcomes, Stacey leads teams from ideation through implementation while identifying transformational efficiencies and improvements. Stacey is currently Director, Audience Engagement and Global Events for Siemens Digital Industries Software, and previously held leadership account roles on the agency side.

In this episode, host Rachel Moore dives into the vital role of networking within the event industry with Brad Jackson, the visionary behind Live Out of Office. Brad shares his journey from working with giants like Live Nation to founding an experiential marketing hub, emphasizing the transformative shift toward collaborative platforms that support freelancers, agencies, and brands. Through discussions on career transitions, the value of a robust network, and leveraging technology for efficiency, Jackson provides insights into the evolving landscape of event production and marketing.

Listeners are treated to Jackson’s personal story, reflecting on his roots in the concert industry and his adventurous leap into freelancing in LA, leading to the inception of Live Out of Office. This platform aims to streamline the event production process, making it more accessible and efficient for industry professionals. 

Here’s more of what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

1. Why building a solid network is crucial for success in the event industry and how relationships shape careers

2. The challenges and rewards of moving from full-time employment to freelance event production

3. The role of AI and technological platforms in revolutionizing event planning and production, making processes more efficient and creative

For show notes, mentions, and the full transcript, visit https://www.bizzabo.com/podcast/brad-jackson-networking-event-production

Candina and Liz discuss building intention into every stage of the attendee journey. You’ll learn digital and event design strategies to grow your audience and enhance the experience from beginning to end.